Method of seaming cover ends to can bodies



1943- Q J. HENCHERi' 2,327,424

'METHOD OF SE AMING COVER ENDS TO CAN BODIES Fil ed June 19, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 24, 1943. J. HENCHERT 2,327,424

METHOD SEAMING COVER ENDS TO CAN BODIES Filed'June 19, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,1? v 14 x 2 M6 4 6 2 v 2 5 v 2.1a

W M K Patented Aug. 24, 1943 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE" METHOD OF SEAMING COVER ENDS TO 7 CAN BODIES John Henchert, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 19, 1941, Serial No. 398,830

1 Claim. (01. 113-121) The invention relates to new and useful improvements in a method of seaming a cover end to a can body of the type shown and described in the patent granted C. A. Arnesen April 9, 1940, No. 2,196,181. 7

An object of the invention is to provide a method'of making an end seam of the above type whereby the end'seam is so constructed as to make a tight seal for the can body and at the same time provide a space in the end seam which facilitates the cutting of the metal so as to separate the cover end from the can body.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a sectional View through a portion of a cover end as initially die-shaped, which cover end is to be seamed to the can body by the improved method.

Figure 2 is a similar view but showing the cover end flange subjected to. a curling roll for curving the edge portion outwardly and inwardly to a point substantially in alignment with the bottom wall of the depression in the cover end.

Figure 3 is a View of the cover end similar to Figure 2 but showing the flange coated with a sealing material and also showing the cover end as applied to a flanged can body preliminary to the joining of the seam thereto by a double seam.

Figure 4 is a view showing the cover end flange subjected to the first seaming operation wherein the outer portion of the flange is bent downwardly while the body flange still remains in its initial position.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing the end seam subjected to a second operation seaming roll for tucking the outer portion of the end flange underneath the flange on the can body and into contact with the under side of the base of the body flange while leaving the lowermost portion of the end seaming flange spaced away from the body flange. v

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing the end seam as subjected to a seaming roll for pressing the bodyflange and a portion of the cover end flange into tight engagement with each other and the body wall in the region extending from the lower edge of the body flange upwardly while providing a space in the seam beneath the lower edge of the body flange.

In carrying out the improved method, the can body I is provided with an outwardly turned flange 2. The cover end which is-to be seamed to this body flange is shown at 3 in the drawings; said cover end is provided with the usual depression which is surrounded by a vertical wall 4 adapted to flt within the can body; said cover and the inner side of the curled portion 9.

end has an outwardly extending seaming flange 5 which projects to a distance beyond the outer edge of the body flange 2 more than twice the length of the flange as shown in Figure B of the drawings. Said seaming flange inclines downwardly from the base 6 of the flange toward the outer edge thereof and the outer edge portion is turned sharply downward as indicated at I. The cover end as thus described and as shown in Figure 1 is die shaped by the usual form of shaping dies. 5 V

The cover end 3 is then subjected to a curling roll 8 and the edge portion 9 thereof is curled downwardly and inwardly so that the lower edge of the curl is substantially in a line containing the bottom wall of the depression in the cover end. After the edge portion of the seaming flange has been curled in the manner described then a coating ill of any suitable sealing material is applied to the under side of the cover end flange This coating may be applied. before the edge portion of the coverend is curled. The cover after it is shaped in the manner abovedescribed is placed on the can body I, after which th can body is chucked and the outer edge portion of the cover end flange is subjected to a seaming roll I I. This seaming roll is of the usual character except as to shaping and is caused to move relative to the can body and the cover end flange so as to perform the initial steps in a seaming operation. This seaming roll H is shaped so that when the seaming operation performed thereby is finished the outer portion of the cover end flange will be given the shape shown in Figure 4. It will be noted that the flange along the line I2 is sharply bent downwardly without any material change in the shape'oi the curled edge portion.

After this initial seaming operation shown in Figure 4, then the cover end flange is subjected to a seaming roll l3 having a groove shaped so that when the seaming operation of this roll is completed the seam parts will be shaped as shown in Figure 5. It will be noted that the outer portion of the cover end flange has been tucked underneath the body flange and the edge M thereof brought into contact with the under side of the base 6 of the cover end flange. It will also be noted that this tucked under portion is spaced away from the body flange 2 and is spaced a considerable distance below the end of the body flange as indicated at I 5.

After completing the second seaming operation illustrated in Figure 5, then the'seam parts are subjected to another seaming roll l6 hich is shaped so that when it has completed its seaming operation the portion l! of the cover end flange is brought into intimate contact with the flange 2 of the can body and the flange 2 of the can body is brought into intimate contact with the innermost portion of the cover end flange and said innermost portion of the cover end flange is brought into intimate contact with the body wall of the can. This makes a very tight seam. While these parts are brought into tight contact, for sealing the can, the lowermost portion of the can end flange is still spaced away from the lower end of the flange 2 of the can body and is shaped so as to provide a recess or space I 3. This recess or space extends outwardly beyond the body flange so that when a can opening cutter wheel is applied to the lower face IQ of the seam, the wall may be cut through and the outer portions of the cover end flange forced outwardly so as to release the cover end from the can body.

it will be noted that in the illustrations show-n in Figures 4, 5; and ,6 the sealing material has beenomitted for the sake of clearness. It will; also be noted that the shapin of the seam is accomplished by seaming rolls which operate progressively to first bend the flange, of the cover end without disturbing the initial positio of the bodyiflange, then ,to tuck the outer portion of the cover end flange underneath the body flange while it is still spaced away from the body wall, and then to finally shape the parts to produce a very tight-seam while leavin a recess or space which extends outwardly along the bottom edge portion of the seam and below he body flange.

It is obvious that minor changes in the details of construction and the shaping of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claim.

I claim:

The method of seaming a cover end to a can body, consisting in outwardly flanging the body, die shaping a cover end dimensioned so as to provide a central depressed portion and a seaming flange of more than twice the length of the body flange, which cover flange is initially inclined downwardly from the base of the flange t0 the outer edge thereof, subjecting the outer edge portion of the coverend to a curling roll for curving said edge portion downwardly and inwardly to a point substantially in alignment with the bottom wallof the depression, placing the cover end on the can body and subjecting the cover end flange to a seaming roll shaped so as to bend the outer portion ofthe flange downwardly while the body flange remains in its initial position, then subjecting'said cover end flange to a second seaming el- 5 shaped so as to tuck the. o ter por ion of the flan e und rn a h the flange n e n into contact with the under side of the base of the body flange while leaving the lowermost portion of the cover end seaming flange spaced away from the body flange, and projecting below and spaced away from the loweredge of the bocb flange and finally subiectingsaid initially par-ts to a third seaming rel-l shaped so as; to pressthe body flange and a portion of the cover end flange into tight engagement with each other and the body wall in the region extendin from the lower edge of the body flange upwardly while providing a space in the seam beneath the lower edge of the body flange-. 7 JOHN HENCHERT. 

